As Long as Somebody Loves You

Chapter Sixteen

I kept running. I kept running. I kept running no matter how much pain I felt swelling in the pit of my soul. The way Demetri looked at me, the way he said those words was still burned into what was left of my heart. My shoes clicked on the sidewalk as I dashed through the cluttered streets frantically searching for something I couldn't comprehend. Buildings, bus stops, stores, and restaurants flew by me without name. Watercolor people without faces were blurred as they passed me. From above, I could smell the heavy clouds leaking with rainwater. My sadness, however, slowly morphed into anger as I walked unprotected in the wet streets.

I was so mad and exhausted, I didn't know what to do.

I tossed and turned between nameless streets and homeless alleyways until I found myself completely lost in one of the largest cities of the world. I knew it had to be far past midnight judging by the brewing night of the stormy sky. I found myself wandering aimlessly. The more I wandered, people seemed to disappear from sight. Maybe it was the rain that scared them away, but part of me decided for some reason that they were all hiding from me.

Everyone knew I was the one that got rid of all those children in central park. Everyone knew I was the one who killed those men in the alley and wiped Allison, that young peacock of a secretary out of existence. My secret of being a witch was exposed. And as much as I tried to convince myself none of it mattered, it was no use. There were likely already police looking for me. I knew Mr. Garrison probably called the authorities a few minutes after I left. After all, I had admitted in front of everyone that I was a murderer. I wouldn't have been surprised if they were rummaging through my penthouse at Woolworth Tower, searching for meaningless evidence to convict me. They'd gather witnesses as if they were herding cattle with voices. They'd question Demetri, too. Even though some might deny the magic they witnessed, they'd still search. Then they would hunt me down, chase me until I was comfortable behind a wall of iron bars. They wouldn't be able to hold me forever of course, but they would still try. And after losing Demetri, it didn't take long for me to realize that I no longer belonged anywhere. When I got too tired, I began to walk.

I found myself on a lonely sidewalk, wondering how it all happened so quickly. An hour ago, I was the most powerful witch in the world... but when I lost Demetri's heart, I felt like the weakest woman in existence.

I don't know how or why, but my wandering led me towards 5th Avenue where for once in a millennia, the rush of New York seemed to sleep. When I looked up from the wet concrete, I realized I was standing in front of St. Patrick's Cathedral, one of the largest churches in the world. When I looked at those large, polished doors I felt a sense of curiosity.

Witches never attended church.

When I hatched out of the icy glaciers in Norway, it was the devil that gifted me with my purpose. Since the very beginning, he had gifted more than a thousand other witches with the same. Therefore, to step inside a church was almost equivalent to treason in terms of offending my maker. I knew I'd be upsetting both sides of whatever religion was true- but then... well... I don't think the concept of eternal doom was floating in my head. In that moment I couldn't have cared less about what was right or wrong anymore. What could be more painful than heartbreak?

The door was locked when I tried to open it. With a flash of my magic, it submitted and swung open lightly. I wiped my eyes one final time before entering, shutting the door behind me so loudly it echoed all the way down the corridor. I thought it was quiet outside, but the stillness of the church seemed to be even quieter. I could smell the melted scent of wax candles burning along with hints of warm spices. It smelled of old books and dusted shelves, reminding me of a large library. And because I was so hurt, it was more than enough to feel at peace.